Before it got there, the shuttle was flown on top of a modified Boeing 747, with two escort jets by its side. This was as close as I got to see the shuttle on its last flight between going to work and running errands, unfortunately. The shuttle and its carrier looked like a large gray bird flying in the haze.
I then found that the shuttle was parked in Inglewood late at night before its long journey to the Science Center began. I inched my way to the front of the crowd to get a closer to Endeavor this time - it was awe-inspiring to see two Southern Californian icons - Randy's Donuts and the space shuttle - side by side. A plane heading to LAX passed by from time to time, the smell of donuts filled the air, and helicopters with cameras buzzed overhead. Someone shouted, "Once in a lifetime, y'all!", and he was right.
Hope I get to visit and sketch it in more detail soon!
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4 comments:
Yay, Shiho! You got it! Wonderful quick impression of the shuttle riding piggyback with its 2 escorts, and I love that drawing with the shuttle parked next to Randy's Donuts...once in a lifetime indeed!
Cool!
I love the bottom sketch with the shuttle just nosing around the corner of the donut shop.
With Virginia's comments about the heat resistant tiles, I wonder how the windows we see in your sketch withstand the heat?
You know, I vaguely remember the first launch of a shuttle, it was really something.
Great sketches Shiho. And it is wonderful to see two different depictions of different stages of the same event.
Thanks for your comments! I forgot to mention - I did get to hold the heat-resistant tile from the shuttle! The piece was about a size of a brick, but weighed very little. People from California Science Center was at Randy's Donuts and passing the tile around for people to touch. It was so fascinating.
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